HaberkipRefugees, emigrants, EU citizens – still more people come to Germany than to move. But the number of immigrants is declining, and the emigrants are rising.

Migration: Net immigration dropped to 500,000

Refugees, emigrants, EU citizens – still more people come to Germany than to move. But the number of immigrants is declining, and the emigrants are rising.

In 2016, net 500,000 people were immigrated to Germany. This was shared by Federal Statistical Office. Compared to previous year, this is a drastic decline: in 2015, net 1,140,000 people came to Germany. The reason for this decline is number of immigrants: in 2016, 1.8 million people were 13 percent less than in 2015. Above all, however, decline in net immigration is due to an increase in emigration: More than 1.3 million people left Germany in 2016, 37 percent more than 2015. The reason for strong increase in emigration is also a statistical change in DerBerechnung of Germans who move.

Half of all immigrants were EU citizens and nine percent came from European countries that are not part of EU. Among non-European immigrants, Asians with 26 percent were largest group. Five percent had nationality of an African country.

According to office, main reason for declining influx is far-off closure of Balkan route for refugees. In its bill, Federal Office takes into account overall migration and emigration. Refugees from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq once again made up majority of migrants who, in higher numbers, emigrated. The number of Syrians, however, decreased by 298,000 (2015) to 146,000 in case of influx and moving. The number of Afghans decreased from 80,000 to 56,000 and that of Iraqis from 60,000 to 48,000.

About 146,000 immigrants were Germans – eir late emigrants or Germans returning from abroad. This was an increase of 25,000 people compared to previous year. At same time, 281,000 German citizens left Germany.